UN / GAZA

05-Apr-2018
00:01:24

In a statement read today by the United Nations spokesperson, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, expressed concern about “the continuing preparations and rhetoric for this Friday’s ‘Great Return March’ in Gaza,” calling on Israeli forces “to exercise maximum restraint and for Palestinians to avoid friction at the Gaza fence.” UNIFEED

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2. Wide shot, Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric walks up to podium
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General:
“Today the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, said he is following with concern the continuing preparations and rhetoric for this Friday’s ‘Great Return March’ in Gaza. Mr. Mladenov called on Israeli forces to exercise maximum restraint and for Palestinians to avoid friction at the Gaza fence. He added that demonstrations and protests must be allowed to proceed in a peaceful manner. Civilians, particularly children, must not be intentionally put in danger or targeted in any way.”
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General:
“Partners are alerting us of a low supply of essential drugs and medical disposables at health facilities in Gaza. There are currently zero stock levels for nearly half of the list of essential drugs and for a quarter of the list of essential disposables in Gaza. An estimated US$ 1 million is urgently required to support the health system in Gaza for drugs, disposables, equipment, gases and lab materials in the coming 6 to 8 weeks. Humanitarian partners are working to prioritize urgently required medical items and coordinating the disbursement of supplies in preparation for the expected medical increased needs.”
6. Med shot, journalists
7. Wide shot, Dujarric at the podium

STORYLINE

The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, today (5 Apr) expressed concern about “the continuing preparations and rhetoric for this Friday’s ‘Great Return March’ in Gaza,” calling on Israeli forces “to exercise maximum restraint and for Palestinians to avoid friction at the Gaza fence.”

In the statement, read to reporters in New York by the Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, Mladenov added that “demonstrations and protests must be allowed to proceed in a peaceful manner. Civilians, particularly children, must not be intentionally put in danger or targeted in any way.”

Dujarric also informed of “a low supply of essential drugs and medical disposables at health facilities in Gaza.”

He said “there are currently zero stock levels for nearly half of the list of essential drugs and for a quarter of the list of essential disposables in Gaza. An estimated US$ 1 million is urgently required to support the health system in Gaza for drugs, disposables, equipment, gases and lab materials in the coming 6 to 8 weeks. Humanitarian partners are working to prioritize urgently required medical items and coordinating the disbursement of supplies in preparation for the expected medical increased needs.”

Last week, Secretary-General António Guterres called for an independent and transparent investigation into clashes at the Gaza fence on Friday between Palestinians participating in the ‘Great Return March’ and Israeli security forces which resulted in at least 15 deaths and a large number of injured.